Grit is defined as courage and resolve; a strength of character. In other words, grit is the ability to stay the course even when things get hard. The way I always understand it is completing the set of pushups even when my arms feel like they are going to give out underneath me. You see in that moment when my arms feel too tired to go on I have to push past the pain and finish the set. What does this have to do with real life outside of the gym? Studies have shown that successful people all possess the characteristics associated with grit. That means that when people are faced with adversity, the successful ones- those who achieve the most in life, persevered in the face of adversity. Are you bad at math? Study anyway. Are you struggling to understand something at work? Learn and master it. You will face plenty of situation that you challenge what you know: new concepts in school, new technology, new demands at work, etc. The key is to recognize your current limitation and push past it. Learn what you need to learn, practice what you need to practice, move past it.
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out. Not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth
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